The High Position of Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) Among the People of Madinah Munawwarah

During the period of his khilaafah, Hazrat Mu’aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) wrote a letter to Marwaan bin Hakam – his governor appointed over Madinah Munawwarah – in which he instructed him to take the bay’at (pledge of allegiance) from the people of Madinah Munawwarah on behalf of his son, Yazeed bin Mu’aawiyah, who will be the khalifah after him. Hazrat Mu’aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not have knowledge of the wrong actions of his son, Yazeed, and therefore wished to appoint him as his successor to the khilaafah.

However, Marwaan did not immediately carry out this instruction. A Syrian man who happened to be in Madinah Munawwarah at that time asked Marwaan the reason for him delaying in carrying out the instruction of Hazrat Mu’aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Marwaan responded saying, “I am waiting for Sa’eed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to first come and pledge allegiance, as he is regarded as the leader of the people and the most noble among the people of Madinah Munawwarah. If he pledges to Yazeed, then the other people will follow him.”

The Syrian man then offered, “Why don’t I go and bring him to you so that he may pledge allegiance?” He proceeded to the home of Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and commanded him to come to Marwaan and pledge allegiance to Yazeed.

Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “You may return; I will come and pledge allegiance (if I wish).”

The Syrian man became upset and angrily retorted saying, “You should either go now and pledge allegiance, or else I will behead you!”

Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “You are calling me to pledge allegiance to those whom I once fought against for the sake of Islam.” With these words, he indicated towards himself being among the first companions of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), due to which he understood which person is worthy to pledge allegiance to and which person is unworthy, and undoubtedly, Yazeed was unworthy of pledging allegiance to.

The Syrian man then returned to Marwaan and informed him of what had occurred, at which Marwaan advised him to remain silent and not to inform the people about what had transpired.

Hazrat Sa’eed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus refrained from coming to pledge allegiance to Yazeed, and therefore Marwaan left him out and began taking the bay’at, on behalf of Yazeed, from the people of Madinah Munawwarah.

Sometime later, the respected wife of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Ummu Salamah (radhiyallahu ‘anha), passed away. She had made a bequest that her janaazah salaah be performed by Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). On account of her bequest, Marwaan did not go forward to perform her Janaazah Salaah.

While waiting for Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid, the Syrian man asked Marwaan, “Why are you not going forward to lead the Janaazah salaah?”

Marwaan replied, “I am waiting for the person whom you had intended to behead (when he did not wish to come forward to pledge allegiance to Yazeed),” Marwaan said this in reference to Hazrat Sa’eed bin Zaid (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Hearing this, the Syrian man realized the high position of Hazrat Sa’eed and immediately recited istighfaar, begging Allah Ta’ala’s forgiveness for the wrong he had committed against Hazrat Sa’eed.

(Tareekh Ibnu Asaakir 21/88, Mustadrak #5853 and Al-Mu’jamul Kabeer #345)